The Cardinals Blog 2024-25: Weekend News, Self Portraits, Journal Entries, Art Activity and More...

Tuesday

Spring Break-Weekend News

Isa - It was my Muslim day and I got toys. I play with my cousins. I went to my grandma's house and I spend the night at my other grandmom's house. I went to the movies.

Whelan - We went to Poppy's house. We went to the aquarium and I touch a cow nose stingray. I saw bats. They had water but I don't know if they were fruit bats or vampire bats.

Julian - I went to Cape May and we stay in hotel. We went to the Blue Pig, it's a restaurant and upstairs there's a bunch of rooms for you to stay in. I went to the zoo and we look at the animals and the red panda was not out. We went to my cousin's birthday.

Willow - I did some mini golf with my cousin and I got ice cream on that same day. I play at my cousin's house and we got Burger King. That's all I can remember.

Masai - I was going to the lollipop store and I got a smoothie. I go to the beach. I go to the aquarium. I see all the sharks and seals and dolphins and fish. I play with my mom and dad at home.

Annie - I was playing with my baby brother. We celebrate his birthday cause he was turning two years old yesterday. We play at grandmom's house. We went to go see my sister play hockey.

Grant - I play mommy. I see fish. I play playground.

Renata - I push my baby brother at the playground two times. I was going on the fish park and I saw some pink buds. I play and play and I did the rings. I go on the big girls swings and daddy push me so so high and I fall off. Then we go down to the pond and I saw tadpoles and they will turn into frogs. The End.

Ellery - I went to the aquarium with Renata. I saw hippos and jellyfish and I go on the shark bridge. I go to restaurant for my birthday and I had ice cream and cinnamon rolls. My Nana has stitches and a boot. She hurt her ankle on the stairs. I went on a bike ride with daddy but I'm too big for his bike.

Zoey - I went to art class. I went in the backyard with daddy. I did my reading class. I went to a party and I roller skate all by myself. I play block with my daddy.

Lydia - I go on airplane for the first time and I go to Puerto Rico and I had fun. I go to three beaches. I was sitting next to window and I didn't realize we were taking off. I look out the window and I saw the ocean. I didn't see the shark cause they were sleeping. I wear my bathing suit and I also eat pastries. I stay at Puerto Rico for four days. I also went to my Nona and grandpa's house.

Lake - I play all by myself. I kick my ball and I kick it too far. We pick up my Mema and then she was in my car. We go to my house and then she left. My mommy made oatmeal and then we went to the cake pop store. Mommy and daddy buy me cake pop, it was pink. I like pink.

Wren - Nana came to my house and we went to the store. She lives in the Country. Nana brought over Legos that was daddy and uncle Matt's. I get them now and daddy and me build with them. I got hurt on my scooter.

Colby - I play my Poppy. I play with my mommy and daddy. I go to Chick-fil-a. I play toys. I go walk me and daddy and mommy and Cooper.

The Cardinals were very excited to be back together and had much to talk about. Some friends engaged in conversation even before taking their jackets off!! Friends also looked much much taller.

We watched as our Cardinals proudly walked into the library and returned their books!! They then sat on the rug in the reading area and got ready to listen to a book read by Michelle. Today she read, If I had a Dragon by Tom and Amanda Ellery. Afterwards, Michelle asked each Cardinal, "Would you want a Dragon? read what friends had to say below! Followed by Michelle saying, "Friends take a good look at the books on the table by opening them up and looking at the pages before choosing a book." Back in our classroom, some books were read aloud before heading off to gym class!

Masai - I take care of him

Zoey - I want a nice dragon

Annie - I want him fire the fire

Isa - I let my dragon be really bad all the time

Julian - I don't want a dragon at all

Whelan - A baby dragon

Lydia - I don't want a dragon it's too scary

Willow - I only want a baby cause they so cute

Lake - No cause it would fire my whole house.

Ellery - A baby one cause it small

Colby - I play it.

Wren - I would give my dragon away

Renata - I want a rainbow dragon with a rainbow body.

The Cardinals were very eager to get to gym class! Josh gave the Cardinals the option of what they wanted to play with in the gym and one by one friends picked either snowballs, frisbees, soccer balls, or a basketball. It was fun watching how friends broke into their own groups and used their imaginations to create new games or collaborated on the rules of their made up games. Some were playing with frisbees - but they wanted them to roll- not fly! Some created a whole ice cream/pancake shop and some played a version of soccer where whoever got to the ball first was the one that could kick it next for all to chase. The Cardinals have all grown so much since September!

Wednesday

The Cardinals did a fun art project with Eileen. Before Spring Break, the Cardinals each painted a brown tree. They heard the phrase for how to make a branch: a line goes for a walk (from the tree), but then needs a friend to go walking along with it (the top part of the branch). Now that the trees dried, the Cardinals mixed some red and white paint to make pink and stamped some flowers to their trees using BROCCOLI! Friends thought that was funny! The classroom will look so happy and bright with our trees hanging on the wall:)

The Cardinals working on a journal entry titled, "What did you do over Spring Break?"

Johanna explained to the Cardinals what they would be doing in Art class today. She gathered everyone on the rug and asked, "How do you created art." The Cardinals gave the answers of glue, paper, paints, and markers. But then, Johanna showed friends all kinds of goodies on her tray and proceeded to make a person out of buttons, rectangle pieces, clothespins, and flashlights! Then the Cardinals went to the tables to create their own piece of art using all kinds of objects: metal circles, plastic shells, wooden shapes, buttons, beads and so much more! They really had fun:). Only one friend was a bit disappointed that they couldn't take their creation with them, yet! Stay Tune!

Today Annie's sister Kate and mom Danielle came to celebrate Annie's 5th birthday! Annie brought in yummy donuts to share with her friends! Thank you, Annie! We hope you enjoyed the rest of your special day!

Happy 5th Birthday Annie!!

Thursday

The Cardinals working on their April self portraits.

The Cardinals began Spanish class with a greeting from Alicia where they also got to name one thing they did over Spring Break. That was followed by Momento de Silencio (a moment of silence). The Cardinals had fun practicing numbers in Spanish by playing "What's Missing?" There were bugs with numbers written on their backs. After naming the numbers, Alicia hid them all under a red bandana. She said the magic words, and pulled one number out. The Cardinals had to figure out which number was missing. They did a fabulous job of figuring it out - either right away or through the process of elimination. Well done, Cardinals! Today it was Grant's turn to squeeze la vaca!

The Cardinals working with popsicle sticks to form letters as they are called out by a teacher. Friends also did a great job with forming a couple words from the At family! The Cardinals were very focused detectives as they watched closely while a teacher drew letters with an invisible pen. Friends were quick to figure out or took a minute before saying what they thought the letter was! Our smart Cardinals are growing up!

The Cardinals having large motor fun and pacing themselves with slower creative activities downstairs on this rainy day!!

Friday

Lake led us into music class. We warmed up to Mardi Grad Mambo by Buckwheat Zydeco. Some friends danced with eggs shakers and scarves while some friends played the big African drums. Great drumming Cardinals! After warming up our singing voices, friends sang Jambo as Keisha played her guitar. Keisha told the Cardinals that they are doing an amazing job with tee and ta. Keisha said she wanted to try something that she usually does with Kindergarteners and first graders. Keisha then showed friends music notes on a paper and the Cardinals all by themselves read the notes, said them and clapped them out. The teachers and Keisha were VERY impressed! Fantastic job Cardinals!! Soon it was time for the Cardinals to go over to the white board to help write music with Keisha guidance! Friends decided which notes they wanted and after a practice without instruments. Keisha gave out rhythm sticks and drums. The Cardinals then created music for our ears!! Yay, Cardinals!!